by Brianna Crandall — October 11, 2010—The Lamp Section of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) recently reaffirmed its commitment to public policies that encourage transitioning to more energy-efficient lighting, including the energy-efficient light bulb provisions of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007).
The Better Use of Light Bulb Act (HR 6144), which was recently introduced by Congressman Joe Barton (R-TX), would repeal EISA 2007 lighting provisions. NEMA, like Congressman Barton, understands that consumers may be anxious as the lighting industry undergoes this technology shift to higher energy-efficient products.
According to NEMA Vice President of Government Relations Kyle Pitsor, the lighting industry is investing heavily in new products that meet consumers’ demands for efficiency and light quality while developing marketing information that will help people understand the variety of products available to them as this transition takes place.
NEMA points out that the market for standard household incandescent bulbs has declined by 50 percent over the last five or so years, and that the potential for energy savings with the change to higher-technology light sources is “immense.”
EISA lighting provisions set phased-in, performance-based, technology-neutral standards, starting in 2011 in California, and nationally between 2012 and 2014. The first product to be affected is today’s 100-watt incandescent bulb. Over the course of two years, similar changes will take place for 75-, 60-, and 40-watt bulbs.
EISA 2007 provisions do not mandate the use of only compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs), nor do they “ban” incandescent products, says NEMA. The new standards will continue to provide consumers with a choice of energy-efficient lighting products to meet their needs including high-efficiency halogen (advanced technology incandescent), compact fluorescent (CFLs), and new light-emitting diode (LED) solid state products.
